Dr. Ronald L. Spiller, Hendricks Hall, 119
e-mail: RSPILLER@edinboro.edu
http://www.edinboro.edu/~rspiller/home.html
Allan Millett and Peter Maslowski, For the Common Defense, Rev. and enlarged ed. (Detroit: The Free Press, 1999)
Harry Summers, On Strategy: A Critical Analysis of the Vietnam War, (Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 1998)
This course will deal with the military history of the United States from its beginnings to the present. We will focus on developing analytical paradigms for understanding war and military leadership. Attendance is expected and roll will be taken. Your course grade will be based on an average of the following,.
Weekly assignments: You will be required to turn in a variety of assignments throughout the semester. These will be pass-fail requirements, with the opportunity to re-submit an unsatisfactory assignment (once per assignment). Missed assignments may-not be made up. Book and definitions exam: At the end of the second week there will be an exam over On Strategy and the definitions listed on the course web site.
Biographical essay: This 750-1500 word essay (no more than 6 pages) should explain the significance of a selected American military personality in the context of American military history. You may define "American" broadly and include British military personalities active before 1783. Each of you must work on a separate personality. A sign-up sheet will be posted on my office door. You must use a variety of sources in this essay including primary sources. A rough draft of your essay is due when you take your midterm exam. For information on format and grading standards see the "Standards" link on my home page.
Midterm exam: This exam will focus on material in For the Common Defense (a good deal of which we will not cover in class) and on applying the analytical paradigms we have developed.
Final essay. This 500-750 word essay (not more than 3 pages) should answer the following question: What is the proper role of the U.S. military in American society in the next 100 years? Your response should be based on the history of the role of the military in American society as well as a reasonable assessment of the challenges of the next 100 years.
Final objective exam: This exam will cover that material in For the Common Defense not dealt with on the midterm exam, as well as the analytical paradigms discussed in class.
Tentative Exam Schedule:
Book and Definitions Exam: 21 January
Midterm: 3 March (Bio. Essay rough draft also due)
Biographical Essay: 28 April
Final Exam and Final Essay: 5 May
Grade Scale:
A - 90%+
B - 80%-89% (B+ 87%-89%)
C - 70%-79% (C+ 77%-79%)
D - 60%-69% (D+ 67%-69%)
F <60%
Week 1:
10 JAN: Introduction.
12 JAN: On Strategy; developing an understanding of war.
14 JAN:
Week 2:
17 JAN:
19 JAN:
21 JAN: Book and Definitions Exam
Week 3:
24 JAN: The intangibles of war.
26 JAN:
28: JAN: American colonial warfare.
Week 4:
31 JAN: The "American way of war."
2 FEB: The American Revolution.
4 FEB: Naval warfare in the age of sail.
Week 5:
7 FEB: Developing an analytical framework for "leadership."
9 FEB: War of 1812
11 FEB: Case study: The Battle of New Orleans
Week 6:
14 FEB: Post-war reorganization
16 FEB: The Mexican War.
18 FEB: Case study: strategy and operations.
Week 7:
21 FEB: Case study: the Battle of Cerro Gordo.
23 FEB: Military technology in the mid-Nineteenth Century
25 FEB: Discussion: the role of the military in a civil war.
Week 8:
28 FEB: Case study: strategy and operations.
1 MAR: Case study: the Battle of Gettysburg.
3 MAR: Case study: leadership.
Winter Break: 6 - 12 March
Week 9:
13 MAR: The Army on the frontier.
15 MAR: Case studies: Fetterman, Custer, and Crook.
17 MAR: Army reform 1865-1898.
Week 10:
20 MAR: The Spanish-American War.
22 MAR: Case study: the Battle of El Caney.
24 MAR: The Root Reforms.
Week 11:
27 MAR: World War I to World War II.
29 MAR:
31 MAR:
Week 12:
3 APR:
4 APR:
7 APR:
Week 13:
10 APR: Korea.
12 APR: The Southeast Asia War.
14 APR:
Week 14: 17 APR:
Spring Break: 19 - 24 April
Week 15:
26 APR: The post Vietnam years.
28 APR: The "Joint" and "Combined" environment. Biographical Essay due.
Week 16:
1 MAY: The Gulf War.
3 MAY:
5 MAY: Final Exam; Final Essay due.